by LJ Shen
Defy was fair.
Defy was brutal.
Most of all, Defy dulled the pain and provided a great explanation for my marred skin.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard the thump of Trent’s cast behind me. He knew how fucked up I was and wanted to save the night.
“Tell Dean to dump her ass or I will,” he said from behind my back.
I shook my head, sneering. “He can do whatever the fuck he wants. If he wants to bang that hillbilly, it’s his funeral.”
“Vicious,” Trent warned.
I turned around and sized him up. His smooth mocha skin shone under the full moon, and I hated him for his ability to enjoy the opposite sex with such carelessness. Fucking random chicks was growing old too fast. And I wasn’t even eighteen yet.
“This shit with this chick is gonna drag everyone down a very dark path.” He took off his shirt, exposing his huge, ripped torso. He was a bulky bastard.
As always, I kept my shirt on. People eyed us avidly, but I’d never cared about these assholes. They wanted to fill their meaningless existence with something to talk about. I was only too happy to give it to them.
I coiled my fist, cocking my head sideways. “Aw, you care about me. I’m fucking touched, T-Rex.” I clutched the left side of my black tee above my heart, mocking him with a fake smile.
Georgia and her airhead crew were watching us intently, waiting for the monster in me to pounce on one of my best friends. I marched past Trent, my shoulder brushing his, trudging toward the tennis court where we fought on most weekends. It was big, secluded, and spacious enough for the crowd to take seats on one side of our makeshift octagon.
“Give me your worst, Rexroth,” I growled, trying to calm myself down. Trying to remind myself that Trent and Jaime were right. Dean and Help were just a fling. They’d be broken up by the end of the month. He was going to dump her—hopefully with her virginity still intact—hurt and angry and looking for a rebound. She’d be fragile, insecure, and vindictive.
And that’s when I was going to strike.
That’s when I was going to show her she was nothing more than my property.
“Come on, T. Move your injured ass to the tennis court. Just try not to bleed all over my fucking grass after we’re done.”
One-Click the book Here
They say it takes a village to raise a kid and write a book. In our fast-paced indie world, it sometimes feels like it takes a whole city. Maybe even country. Finding your tribe is essential, and makes taking this journey more pleasant and less…well, frightening.
I would like to begin by thanking Becca Hensley Mysoor and Ava Harrison for the daily phone calls—I talked your ears off. Thanks for listening and making Wolfe and Francesca everything I needed them to be. And to my beta readers, Tijuana Turner (x2,000,000 times), Sarah Grim Sentz, Lana Kart, Amy Halter and Melissa Panio-Petersen. You ladies always leave a piece of your soul with my manuscripts.
At this point of the acknowledgements, I have yet to send it to my besties, Helena Hunting and Charleigh Rose, but chances are, by the time this is out, they’ve read it a thousand times over and listened to my freak-outs for hours on end. Thank you (and sorry).
To Elaine York and Jenny Sims for the fabulous editing: You guys are the real MVPs. Thank you for always being there when I need you. And to my fabulous, glorious, GODDESS (yes, all caps) designer, Letitia Hasser at RBA Designs. I wanted something unique and pretty and eye-catching. You delivered. In spades.
To my formatter, Stacey Blake at Champagne Formatting, who has the ability to make everything SO pretty. Also, huge thanks to my agent, Kimberly Brower at Brower Literary.
Finally, I would like to thank my husband and son and parents and brother (and my soon-to-be sister-in-law!) for loving me almost as much as I love them. And of course, to my street team, my second family (taking a deep breath to make sure I don’t leave anyone out): Lin Tahel Cohen, Avivit Egev, Galit Shmaryahoo, Vanessa Villegas, Nadine (Bookaddict), Sher Mason, Kristina Lindsey, Brittany Danielle Christina, Summer Connell, Nina Delfs, Betty Lankovits, Vanessa Serrano, Yamina Kirky, Ratula Roy, Tricia Daniels, Jacquie Czech Martin, Lisa Morgan, Sophie Broughton, Leeann Van Roseburg, Luciana Grisolia, Chele Walker, Ariadna Basulto, Tanaka Kangara, Vickie Leaf, Hayfaah Sumtally, Samantha Blundell, Aurora Hale, Erica Budd Panfile, Sheena Taylor, Keri Roth, Amanda Söderlund, and I’m pretty sure I left a few people out because I always do (but never on purpose).
Oh, and to the Sassy Sparrows, my fierce reading group! How I love you, my quick-witted, supportive, good-hearted allies.
And to you, my readers, for taking a chance on my books. It would mean the world to me if you could take a few seconds of your time to leave an honest review and tell me what you thought about The Kiss Thief.
Love and kisses,
L.J. Shen
Tyed
Sparrow
Blood to Dust
Vicious
Defy
Ruckus
Scandalous
Bane
The End Zone
Midnight Blue
Dirty Headlines
Pretty Reckless (All Saints High #1): Coming Soon
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